+DEV+ Fishing for Attention

Date: November 8, 2010 9:53 PM
Topic: +DEV+ Fishing for Attention

Fishing for Attention

"'So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men'" (Matthew 6:2a).
Scripture Focus: Matthew 6:1-8

The most religious people in Jesus' day were not honoring God. Instead, they drew attention to themselves. Jesus called them hypocrites. Their charitable giving was attended by trumpets, and their ostentatious praying was done in public so those who heard them would be impressed. Jesus cautioned His listeners not to be like those vain religious showoffs.

Yet here we are displaying 21st century versions of that very thing. It's easy to judge the Pharisees. The very fact that we want to do so shows that we are more proud than we care to admit. We may not be attended by trumpets or give loud prayers in public, but most of us are not unfamiliar with expressions of false modesty, of fishing for compliments, and of completing our service but relishing the praise more than the opportunity to serve.

Let's submit our motives to the Lord for a checkup. Do we give, sing in a worship team, volunteer, chair a committee, or preach to be admired and praised? Or do we seek to honor God?

Insight: Those who fish for compliments do so under the watchful eyes of Someone whose scrutiny exceeds that of a game warden.